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Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina

 


Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a compact city on the Miljacka River, surrounded by the Dinaric Alps.

 

Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is world-renowned as the site of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s 1914 assassination, which sparked World War I, and as the "Jerusalem of Europe" for its unique, centuries-old blending of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian culture, religion, and architecture.
It is also famous for hosting the 1984 Winter Olympics and surviving the longest siege in modern history.

 

Key Highlights and reasons for its fame include:

  • Cultural and Religious Crossroads: Often called the "Jerusalem of Europe" or "Jerusalem of the Balkans" the city is known for having mosques, synagogues, Catholic churches, and Orthodox churches in the same neighborhood, symbolizing coexistence


  • Historical Turning Points:

    • Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914): Occurred at the Latin Bridge, triggering World War I.

    • 1984 Winter Olympics: Marked a high point in the city's modern history.

    • Siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996): The longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare during the Bosnian War


  • Baščaršija (Old Town): The 15th-century Ottoman bazaar is famous for the Sebilj (wooden fountain), bustling coppersmith streets (Kazandžiluk), and traditional Bosnian coffee culture.

  • Cuisine and Coffee: Known for dishes like ćevapi (grilled minced meat) and intense, traditional Bosnian coffee served in copper pots

  • Surrounding Mountains: The city is surrounded by Dinaric Alps, famous for hiking and skiing, including the abandoned bobsleigh track from the 1984 Olympics on Mount Trebević. 


City center has museums commemorating local history, including Sarajevo 1878–1918, which covers the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, an event that sparked World War I. 

 

Landmarks of the old quarter, Baščaršija, include the Ottoman-era Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque.

 

In 2025, it was 30 years since the Bosnian War ended, and high time to explore Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital Sarajevo.

Intriguing culture, stunning architecture and tempting cuisine all contribute to the city’s allure. 

 

 Explore the Old town

 No visit to Sarajevo is complete without a wander around Baščaršija, the city’s 15th-century old town

 

Take in hearty Bosnian Cuisine

Bosnia is one for comforting cuisine.

With similarities to Turkish and Mediterranean food, you can find a wonderful variety of dishes to try.

Bosnia is vegetarian-friendly with dishes such as dolma – vegetables stuffed with rice, to tuck into.

Vegans can delight in a range of restaurants dotted around Sarajevo. Halal-friendly eateries are also numerous, so much so that the Sarajevo Halal Fair takes place each year at the end of September, bringing members of the halal food industry together

  

 Take a Day trip to Mostar

Mostar, the official capital of Herzegovina, is just over a two-hour drive away and well worth a day trip from Sarajevo. The must-see sight is the compelling Stari Most, a 16th-century Ottoman bridge. It was destroyed during the Croat-Bosniak War, but later reconstructed to reopen in 2004